Agent calls for player protection on tanking

ALLEGATIONS of tanking against Melbourne have prompted a call for players to be safeguarded against penalties should the controversy arise in the future.

As the Demons' lawyers continue to dissect the AFL's report into tanking, player agent Peter Jess says players must have a ''safe harbour'' clause inserted in their contracts to guard against possible legal reprisal.

AFL investigators have interviewed about 30 people associated with the Demons during the 2009 season, when it is alleged the club did not want to win more than four matches and jeopardise hopes of a priority pick.

Former captain James McDonald and Brock McLean, now at Carlton, were interviewed but have escaped charges. McLean has backtracked on his original declaration of outright tanking.

Former coach Dean Bailey, general manager of football Chris Connolly, no longer in that role but still at the club, chief executive Cameron Schwab and the Demons' board at the time have until January 29 to prove why they should not be charged. Bailey is facing three charges and the other parties two.

Jess said the five-month investigation had highlighted why players needed greater protection and he had written to the AFL Players Association requesting a ''safe harbour'' clause be inserted in contracts.

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''I don't understand why people call it tanking. Quite simply it is altering the result of the game, which is a criminal offence if guilt is established,'' he said.

''Players under the current system may inadvertently be caught up in this - there needs to be a 'safe harbour'. If they feel something doesn't sound right, or they have been under instruction to do something, there was no 'safe habour' where they could register concern with the AFL or AFLPA which protects them. There has got to be a clear ability for players to be protected.

''While we call this tanking, the betting companies that wage on this may have rights on the participants who altered the outcome if guilt is established.''

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As revealed by Fairfax Media, lawyers for all parties have begun to dissect the final three minutes of the contentious round-18 clash between the Demons and Richmond in 2009, when the Tigers won with an after-the-siren goal by Jordan McMahon.

While all parties face charges of tampering with the draft and bringing the game into disrepute, Bailey is also facing the allegation of not coaching to his utmost.

Lawyers believe the AFL will have trouble proving if there is any merit to this and are set to point to other examples of players being rested and experimental positional moves being made when a team cannot make the finals.

The investigation, featuring about 800 pages of documents, has particularly questioned the actions of Connolly and Schwab.

Connolly has argued he is the victim of a conspiracy theory despite an overwhelming number of witness statements detailing the now infamous ''vault meeting'' after a win over Port Adelaide where he allegedly made it clear the Demons were harming their hopes of securing a coveted extra pick.